UVic named as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers

The University of Victoria has been included in the list of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the seventh time. The national awards recognize Canadian employers that lead the nation in creating a culture of environmental awareness and action.

It’s an honour to be recognized as a green employer. UVic’s green campus and leadership on climate action and sustainability is something we are very proud of. This year, with input from student, faculty and staff, we're developing an institutional Climate and Sustainability Action Plan, which will offer ambitious, creative and integrated sustainability solutions while respecting Indigenous ways of knowing and being.
—Mike Wilson, director of campus planning and sustainability

Sustainable initiatives that supported UVic’s selection in the Canada’s Greenest Employers list for 2021 include:

• The Campus Sustainability Fund, which provides financial support for employee, student and faculty-inspired sustainability projects
• The integration of sustainability as a key part of UVic’s academic curriculum in nearly every major field, from science and engineering to social sciences and law
• A campus community garden with 90 plots, run by UVic Student Society volunteers, offers regular gardening workshops and a bee apiary, and an ongoing native plant landscaping and invasive species removal program
• Progress toward becoming a zero-waste campus. UVic offers hundreds of recycling kiosks, an extensive composting program, water conservation initiatives, and special pick-up and drop-off services for soft plastics, styrofoam, electronic waste and batteries

Major sustainability initiatives underway during 2021 include: the development of a Climate and Sustainability Action Plan that will guide the university with an integrated approach to sustainability across research, education, community engagement and campus operations; construction of two new student housing and dining buildings, which will target Passive House and LEED Gold construction standards while adding 621 new residence spaces for students living on campus; and implementation of the Campus Cycling Plan,which will create an All Ages and Abilities (AAA) cycling network on campus.

Learn about more sustainability initiatives through UVic’s Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability.

Canada’s Greenest Employers competition, now in its 14th year, is organized by the Canada’s Top 100 Employers project. UVic was also recognized as a Top Diversity Employer in 2021 and 12th on Forbes' 2021 Canada's Best Employers list.